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AntiVirus Pro 2017

Also Known As: AntiVirus Pro 2017 scam
Damage level: High

What is AntiVirus Pro 2017?

AntiVirus Pro 2017 is fake anti-virus software created by cyber criminals with the intention of tricking users into buying the 'full' version. This dubious application stealthily installs on system via Trojans, fake downloads, and malicious websites. After infiltration, AntiVirus Pro 2017 reports that the system is infected with various high-risk computer viruses.

Next, warning messages are displayed, stating that the computer is at risk and the user is strongly advised to upgrade this false anti-virus software to a full version capable of eliminating these threats. This software is, however, a scam - it imitates the detection of computer infections that do not exist, and therefore, buying the so-called 'full' version is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals.

AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake antivirus program

The developers of this bogus application aim to scare users into believing that their computer systems are in danger due to various security issues. Their goal is to trick unsuspecting users into the purchase of a license key required for activation of AntiVirus Pro 2017.

If you notice that this program is performing a system scan, your computer has been infected with false anti-virus suite. Do not pay for the full version of AntiVirus Pro 2017 and eliminate this bogus application from your system immediately.

As mentioned above, this bogus application is simply an imitation of a legitimate anti-virus program, and therefore, it should not be trusted. AntiVirus Pro 2017 displays false security warning messages and lists of 'detected' malware to deceive users into believing their systems are infected with a wide range of high-risk computer infections.

This type of fake anti-virus suite (previous versions are named AntiVirus Pro 2015, Antivirus Plus 2014, and Smart Security) usually install by exploiting various security vulnerabilities on victims' computers. Cyber criminals also use infected email messages and P2P networks to spread their rogue antivirus programs.

This situation can be avoided by keeping all software and operating systems up-to-date and by using genuine anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.

Following infiltration on the system, AntiVirus Pro 2017 disables the operating system Task Manager, denying use of Internet browsers and making removal of this scam more complicated. If your computer has been infected with this bogus application, the instructions provided below will guide you through removal.

AntiVirus Pro 2017 performing a fake computer security scan and reporting non-existent malware infections:

AntiVirus Pro 2017 performing a fake computer scan

AntiVirus Pro 2017 imitating various features of legitimate antivirus programs ('Privacy Keeper', 'Firewall' and 'Updates'):

AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake privacy keeper AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake firewall AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake updates

AntiVirus Pro 2017 generating fake security warning messages:

AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake alert sample 2 AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake alert sample 1 AntiVirus Pro 2017 fake alert sample 3

“Security Warning - Malicious program has been detected. Click here to protect your computer”

 

“Firewall Warning, Hidden file transfer to remote host has been detected - AntiVirus Pro 2017 has detected a leak of your files through the Internet. We strongly recommend that you block the attack immediately”

 

“AntiVirus Pro 2017 has found 57 useless and UNWANTED files on your computer! - Potentially dangerous files were found on your system during the last scan! It is strongly recommended that you remove them immediately”

AntiVirus Pro 2017 requesting users pay (€59.99 for one year and €88.99 for a three-year subscription) for a 'full' version to eliminate fake computer threats:

AntiVirus Pro 2017 payment AntiVirus Pro 2017 payment 2

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Quick menu:

AntiVirus Pro 2017 removal using Safe Mode with Networking:

Windows 7 users:

Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Safe Mode with Networking

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows 8 users:

Windows 8 users: Go to the Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click on Advanced Startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window select Advanced Startup. Click on the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into "Advanced Startup options menu".

Click on the "Troubleshoot" button, then click on "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen click on "Startup settings". Click on the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press "5" to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.

Windows 8 Safe Mode with networking

Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

After booting your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, try downloading and running the recommended antimalware software. If the download is blocked, follow the instructions presented below.

To make the removal process of Antivirus Pro 2017 less complicated, try entering the retrieved registry key. Click the "get full time protection now" button located at the bottom left corner of the main window, enter a fake email address and this registry key:

Y65RAW-T87FS1-U2VQF7A

AntiVirus Pro 2017 registration process:

Click on 'Get full time protection now':

AntiVirus Pro 2017 registration process step

In the 'Registration E-Mail' field, enter any fake email address and in the 'Registration Key' field, enter this registration key - Y65RAW-T87FS1-U2VQF7A:

AntiVirus Pro 2017 registration process step 2

After entering the fake email messages and registration key provided, click 'Confirm activation' and 'OK'.

AntiVirus Pro 2017 registration process step 3

Note that by entering this registry key, you will trick Antivirus Pro 2017 into behaving as if you have purchased the full version. This will unblock your Task Manager and you will be able to use your Internet browsers to download legitimate anti-spyware software and eliminate this scam from your computer.

NOTE: If you cannot run the remover, right-click on it and select "Run as administrator". If the installation of the malware remover fails, or you cannot open the .exe files, try one of the alternative download locations below:

  • Location 1 (the file is renamed to "iexplore.exe", since most spyware does not block this file)
  • Location 2

If, after or before, removal of this fake antivirus program you are unable to run any of your installed software, AntiVirus Pro 2017 has modified your operating system's .exe file associations. To fix this, download the registry fix (link below). Save it to your computer, double click it, click "Yes", and then "OK". After rebooting your PC, file associations should function normally.

AntiVirus Pro 2017 removal - optional method:

AntiVirus Pro 2017 rogue blocks execution of all installed software - this makes its removal complicated. The best way to eliminate this rogue is to login to an unaffected user account and run a security scan from it. If available, login to "Guest" account and follow the removal steps provided below. If your "Guest" user account is not activated, follow these steps:

Windows 7 users:

Click on the Windows logo (Start), select Control Panel.

windows 7 - accessing Control Panel

In the opened window, select "User Accounts and Family Safety".

Windows 7- accessing

In the opened window, click the "Add or Remove User Accounts" link.

Windows 7 Control Panel - add or remove user accounts

In the opened window, click "Guest Account".

Windows 7 - activating guest account

In the next window, click the "Turn On" button.

Windows 7 turn on guest account

Windows 8 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. In the Quick Access Menu, select Control Panel.

Turning on guest user on Windows 8 step 1 - accessing Control Panel

In the opened window, click "Change account type" (under "User Accounts and Family Safety").

Turning on guest user on Windows 8 step 2 - clicking Change account type in User accounts and Family Safety section

In the opened window, click "Guest".

Turning on Guest user in Windows 8 step 3 - clicking

In the next window, click the "Turn On" button.

Turning on Guest user in Windows 8 step 4 - clicking

Restart your PC, when the Windows logon screen appears, select "Guest" user, and then continue with the removal steps provided below.

After logging in your Guest account, download recommended malware removal software and run a full system scan to completely eliminate this fake antivirus software from your PC.

Manual AntiVirus Pro 2017 removal instructions

Some spyware can block the downloading of spyware removers. If you cannot download it using the default location, try one of the alternative download locations below:

  • Location 1 (the file is renamed to "iexplore.exe", since most spyware does not block this file)
  • Location 2

If installation of the remover fails, try downloading the customized installer, which was built by our technicians to bypass spyware infections. Download customized installer

If you still cannot download or run the spyware-removing software, perform these steps:

Step 1
Some variants of this spyware modify the system proxy settings so that you are unable to access the Internet (or website addresses are redirected to malicious or phishing websites). To reset the proxy settings to default, download and run this tool:

Step 2
AntiVirus Pro 2017 modifies the system Hosts file. The Hosts file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses. When it is changed, the user may be redirected to malicious sites, despite observing legitimate URLs in address bar. It is difficult to determine which sites are genuine when the Hosts file is modified.

To fix this, download the Microsoft Fix It tool, which restores your Hosts file to the Windows default. Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:

Step 3
That's It! You can now try to download the Malware remover or install and run it if already downloaded.

Summary:

The fake antivirus programs (also known as "rogue antivirus programs" or "scareware") are applications that tries to lure computer users into paying for their non-existent full versions to remove the supposedly detected security infections (although the computer is actually clean). These bogus programs are created by cyber criminals who design them to look as legitimate antivirus software. Most commonly rogue antivirus programs infiltrate user's computer using poop-up windows or alerts which appear when users surf the Internet. These deceptive messages trick users into downloading a rogue antivirus program on their computers. Other known tactics used to spread scareware include exploit kits, infected email messages, online ad networks, drive-by downloads, or even direct calls to user's offering free support.

A computer that is infected with a fake antivirus program might also have other malware installed on it as rogue antivirus programs often are bundled with Trojans and exploit kits. Noteworthy that additional malware that infiltrates user's operating system remains on victim's computer regardless of whether a payment for a non-existent full version of a fake antivirus program is made. Here are some examples of fake security warning messages that are used in fake antivirus distribution:

Fake pop-up used in rogue antivirus distribution example 1

Fake pop-up used in rogue antivirus distribution example 2

Computer users who are dealing with a rogue security software shouldn't buy it's full version. By paying for a license key of a fake antivirus program users would send their money and banking information to cyber criminals. Users who have already entered their credit card number (or other sensitive information) when asked by such bogus software should inform their credit card company that they have been tricked into buying a rogue security software. Screenshot of a web page used to lure computer users into paying for a non-existent full version of antivirus pro 2017 scam and other rogue antivirus programs:

example of a webpage used to collect payments for fake antivirus programs

To protect your computer from antivirus pro 2017 scam and other rogue antivirus programs users should:

  • Keep their operating system and all of the installed programs up-to-date.
  • Use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
  • Use caution when clicking on links in social networking websites and email messages.
  • Don't trust online pop-up messages which state that your computer is infected and offers you to download security software.

Symptoms indicating that your operating system is infected with a fake antivirus program:

  • Intrusive security warning pop-up messages.
  • Alerts asking to upgrade to a paid version of a program to remove the supposedly detected malware.
  • Slow computer performance.
  • Disabled Windows updates.
  • Blocked Task Manager.
  • Blocked Internet browsers or inability to visit legitimate antivirus vendor websites.

If you have additional information on antivirus pro 2017 scam or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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